Taste of Spanish splendour

Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor

WHEN SHE first arrived here in Kingston, Jamaica, it was universally accepted and propagated that, indeed, Spanish Ambassador Her Excellency Celsa Nuño had her work cut out for her. She was expected to fill the boots of her predecessor and this was no easy task.

Indeed, just about two years into her job as Spain's First Citizen here, the amicable has not proven herself equal to the task, but has proven herself a dynamo, a tour de force. With admirable grit and tenacity, she has cemented Spain as one of the pre-eminent diplomatic missions here in Jamaica. She has also been at the forefront of helping to establish and promote not just a greater understanding of Spain, its role and objectives, but also the interests of Spanish businesses here in Jamaica.

Indeed, Ambassador Nuño and husband Alex Crowther have opted to take the path less travelled, and have been exploring Jamaican history and culture embracing its people. They have been diplomatic exemplars as they serve.

Known and celebrated for their intimate soirées and cultural patronage, Ambassador Nuño as her country's premier envoy, has rewritten the diplomatic template. She has embraced and overtly endorsed Spanish businesses here, particularly the Spanish tourism sector, which got a bad rap initially by some national tourism interests.

Indeed, when it comes to the celebration of Spain's National Day here, the event is one of the more eagerly anticipated and celebrated events on the diplomatic social calendar supported by the Spanish hotels on the island's north coast. All contribute to making the special day a fabulous success by journeying into Kingston to share and serve up Spanish delicacies with an extra oomph.

Dinner Party

Well, in celebration of Food Month, and in a series of culinary tours designed to showcase the culinary delights of Spain, Nuño hosted a rather intimate dinner party at her Norbrook Road official residence, at which catering honours were undertaken by the Gran Bahai Principe under the expert 'baton' of the resort's GM Ricardo Esteban.

Doves, talk about putting on the ritz. Dears, the seven-course gourmet presentation and attendant white-gloved service was, and simply put, a lesson in fine dining beyond compare. We are talking style-perfect here and then some as, indeed, for the 20 specially invited guests, there were some 20-plus waiters in attendance, and a battery of chefs to make for the perfect dinner party.

Luvs, from the house special welcoming cocktail on offer upon arrival to the introduction of some rare and prized Scotch and Spanish libations, the evening scheduled for a 7 got under way pretty much on time two last Wednesdays ago. It was executed like clockwork under the 'baton' of the Gran Bahai's GM who not only supervised the evening's fare, but proved a most engaging narrator as he expertly guided guests through their seven courses.

Among the guests were Tourism and Entertainment Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill and his stunning wife, style doyenne Sheila Benjamin-McNeill; Glynne Manley; the esteemed Phillip and wife, Christine Gore; the Gleaner's Christopher Barnes and wife, the lovely Isabelle Barnes; the Observer's Danville Walker and wife, the very charming Sharon Walker; the celebrated Donovan Perkins and his charmingly elegant wife, Michele Perkins; Steve Morgan and his wife, the fabulously engaging head of JPS, Kelly Tomblin; businessman Ian Moore and wife, Dr Rosemary Weismann-Moore; and the Observer's Lifestyle editor, Novia McDonald Whyte, making up the critically hand-picked shortlist of guests in attendance. Then you all know, we are talking a simply fabulously civilised evening here, punctuated by spirited discourse and nothing but!

My daahling dears, it was truly an evening to remember as indeed, with a selection of Spanish melodies, providing fabulous accent music; and the staffers appearing on cue to present and/or retire a dish, replenish or replace a wine or water goblet, it all made for a spectacular dinner party! And even more so by the almost bohemian ware that augmented each and every dish that transformed the occasion from a mere dinner party to a truly grand and resplendent occasion, as here each dish was not only presented as a culinary masterpiece, framed against the background of excellent china, there were hints of Jamaica's celebration of its 50th year of Independence in the presentations that evoked involuntary gasps of admiration from guests.

My luvs, more anon. This was an evening that redefined the art of fine dining and, my daahling dears, how!

Spanish